A recent advertisement dominat ing a quarter of several newspapers’ front pages carries President Asif Ali Zardari’s picture with the legend Quaid-i-Pakistan. Undoubtedly, a minister desirous of pleasing the president simply overdid what he intended. Yet what would have I not given to see a government ad urging people to contribute in some official fund for girls’ education founded to commemorate president’s one year in office. And yet we all know that no such initiative is in the offing. This advertisement then sums up the current government’s erroneous media policy.
The government has many troubles of its own making and yet it fails to see the biggest threat to its existence namely sycophancy. It fails to comprehend that reality is more potent than mere perceptions. That is exactly why it reacts so sharply to any form of criticism and in doing so alienates many of its erstwhile and honest supporters. This reactionary bent of mind is mainly due to the perception of being under siege. And yet as this reactionary attitude strengthens, transparency is compromised, bolstering the widespread perception of corruption and eventually the very fear of siege itself. No wonder then that the current government’s performance is spiralling downwards as its intolerance mounting.
It is clear today that the Zardari-Gilani government did not merely inherit a mounting burden of problems from the Musharraf regime, it also did a coterie of sycophants. It is clear that owing to Mohtarma Benazir’s assassination when it came to forming the government her party was not well prepared. And since the baggage of the past was too onerous, it was caught clueless. In such a situation the coterie of sycophants who had brought Musharraf to such a steep end of his political career in order to survive flocked around Zardari. And it did make perfect sense. These Platos had staked everything for Musharraf thinking that he would win in the end. Now they certainly needed some breathing space. And in came Zardari, memory fresh with people who kept publishing stories or comments on how corrupt he was, during his confinement. Sceptical of the traditional media and the judiciary who in any case have always shown less sympathy towards the PPP than other political concerns he embraced this coterie readily. But now what? Musharraf’s stigma has successfully been attached to the new president and hence he has to fight the past misperceptions about him simultaneously. Only it would have been good had he been putting good fight, but no sir, he seems to have given up the fight altogether. Resultantly the traditional image management has been left to the catfights of the ministers on the tube. The one who earns more brownie points on the television gets awarded according to her/his accomplishments. This strategy however cannot bear any durable results as to the viewers it sounds nothing more than the good old sycophancy.Another serious casualty of this struggle is transparency. The public misperceptions about the president and many of his close allies are not exactly a hidden secret. In such a scenario it would have been quite effectual had the government showed some desire to conduct its affairs more openly. But perhaps to the fear that more information may only empower further its critics, the PPP administration has kept its cards close to its chest. Had there been the winning cards in its hand, one should not have objected that vociferously. But unfortunately transition to democracy is seldom accomplished without cutting humungous embarrassing deals. And such deals have the potential of waylaying the best of the reputes what to mention of an administration struggling under the negative weight of the NRO.
Lack of transparency then has reinforced the negative perceptions in the worst possible way. Not a day passes without an urban legend being narrated to us regarding the exploits of the president’s men. And the miserable economic conditions ensure that the current government has to take all the slack. In such conditions when someone comes up with a story worth a fairy tale book about corruption one cannot help but buy it without much compunction. And the worst bit is that when a government minister is asked about these allegations what one has to contend with is a tirade of unfounded accusation instead of an answer.
And what should be done regarding strengthening the perception that the country’s territory is being sold brick by brick to the foreigners may they be the Americans, the Indians or the Saudis? It must be said that the PPP leadership has always been dubbed by some circles in the country as a threat to national security. Unfortunately, there exists no mechanism available to fight such impressions. When a government official is approached for clarification what you get is a solemn denial. But everything is denied in the Islamic republic and the bad part is that no one buys these denials any longer. When a government official says that Blackwater or Xe does not exist in the country, it is usually believed that either the government is bluffing or else it is no longer in control. In either case everyone is compelled to wonder if such democracy is needed at all?
But this again is the bad part. We all know how important democracy is for healthy institution building. If democracy is derailed now again Pakistan will have to suffer and it will reinforce the Indian propaganda that Pakistan is the part of the problem rather than a solution. We cannot afford that either. And those in our political class that think that if the current administration goes they will have a chance at government formation, should shun such delusions. Any change at this stage will not be democratic or else temporary in any case. On the contrary, national security may force many to accept another dictatorial regime in this very short span of time.
Then what should be done on the government front. The PPP’s state mercifully is not beyond recovery. Believing that the government might be doing constructive things too, one can only urge it to be more open, transparent and more forthcoming on information. If the president really warms up to the media and shuns omnipresent sycophancy, he may find that professional and principled media outlets can be more sympathetic to the cause of better governance than any bunch of sycophants. Simultaneously the government will have to re-examine its choice of the media managers too; for the current lot right now is proving to be a liability. Remember that the time for action is ticking by and any delay in setting the house in order may cost the country dearly. However if the government decides to shun its reluctant ways, it may have quite a lot to celebrate.
The article was published in The Nation on Sept 17, 2009. Click here to see the original publication.